Monday, April 18, 2011

Welcome. This is the first of many entries we will post as we move towards Opening Night (October 2013!) I hope you will follow the process as we bring my books to the stage.

Expanding my two 'Princess Kim' children's books into a full length play script is an exciting challenge. I started this process in the Fall of 2010, when we, (Toby, Andrew, Janine & I) started meeting. I knew I had to expand the storyline and develop the existing characters as well as create new ones. It seemed a bit overwhelming. Toby posed the question- "What's the back story?" That was it- I needed to start with a back story. I began asking myself ... "Why was Kim entering a new school? Where is Kim's mom? What is Kim struggling with? What does her Dad do for work? What about Grandma? Who is she? Why is Grandma Betty so dramatic?" The answers were my back story. I let my imagination drift back in time, and began by writing about Grandma's life as a little girl, moving forward in time. Most of the back story will not be in the play, but in order to write about my characters "in present day", I needed to know who they were in their past lives.

As I write and edit the script, the creative team is updated. At our monthly meeting we share ideas and get "recharged." Andrew has already written a few songs, incorporating some of the script into the lyrics. Fun stuff. (We'll share tibits along the way.) All my characters, main and minor, are developing their own personalities and traits, and I can see the play coming together. Soon we will me meeting several times a month as we get closer to our goal of having the first draft of the play, script and songs, completed by late summer.

I hope you follow along.Maryann
(For the backgound of the play, please click THE PLAY tab above.)

Creator/ Playwright Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Maryann is the author and illustrator of the children's books, Princess K.I.M. and the Lie that Grew and Princess Kim and Too Much Truth from which this play is based. Maryann has written and illustrated over 50 books for children and has worked with most major publishers. She holds a BFA in Illustration from the Massachusetts College of Art. A Boston native, Maryann lives in New Hampshire with her family. Please visit her website

Co-Adapter/ Director Toby Tarnow

Toby is an award winning actress who began her professional career at the age of 10 on live radio at the Canadian Broadcasting Company and was the first Anne in Anne of Green Gables the musical. She has been involved professionally in theater, film and television as a performer, writer, producer and director in Canada and New York City. She is the Artistic Director and founder of the Riverbend School of Theater Arts, whichtrains students in all aspects of theater and is the recipient of the "Children and Youth Theater Award" at the 2011 NH Theater Awards.

Composer/Lyricist Andrew Cass

Andrew Cass is a composer, writer, performer, and New Hampshire Theater Award-winning actor. He teaches guitar, piano, bass and ukulelein Southern, NH and narrated the audio book “Arrows of Change” by Honor Raconteur. He is also one half of the alternative acoustic duo, A Wink And A Smile.

Composer/ Arranger Premik Russell Tubbs

Premik is an established NYC composer, arranger, producer and an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, who performs on various flutes, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, wind synthesizer and lap steel guitar. Premik has worked with Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Ravi Shankar,Jackson Browne, Sting, Billy Joel and James Taylor,among others. He is equally adept in pop, R&B, jazz, world and experimental genres. www.premik.com

K.I.M. PRODUCTIONS--Kids In Mind-- All text, lyrics, music, photos and illustrations are COPYRIGHT 2011. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use is prohibited.